REBUILDING ALTARS

SERIES: THESE ARE THE DAYS OF ELIJAH- THE LAST DAY CHURCH

TEXT: 1^st KINGS 18:16-40

Altars in the Old Testament were geographical places built to worship God. Altars today are spiritual places within people. Today, we want to look at the significance of rebuilding the altars of our hearts and the blessing it brings. The life of Elijah is a picture of the last day church- 1^st Kings 18:16-40.

As we follow the life of Elijah, we should not just follow the miracles he performed but look at the supernatural life he lived.

The last day church which we believe we are, need to be a supernatural wonder working church but how do we arrive there?

There are no shortcuts. Elijah’s life was one of prayer, meditating on God’s word and faith to believe that God can do what He says He can do.

As we approach this part of Elijah’s life, we will see it is about altars confrontation and faith.

• The altar was on Mt. Carmel which literally means a garden or fruitful place.
• The altar was broken down but it did exist which leads us to believe at some point Israel worshipped God at this place, where they offered sacrifices.
• Israel had forgotten God and were enamored by the “gods of their day.”
• Today, the church by and large has forgotten the God of Israel. Where are the wonders that can be verified that bring awe and reverence to God?
• How about worship of God? We sing and praise Him, we gather together, but we seem to be “Sunday” people.
• We seem not to be obsessed with God throughout the week. We love the so called “Worship experience” when we are supposed to be in station of worship all the time.
• Altars are supposed to be active moment by moment as we live and walk in the spirit daily.
• Today, the majority of us live a fruitless existence with broken personal and corporate altars. Let us learn more:-

THE ALTAR

• Altars involve our whole being.
• An altar is a place of sacrifice or death, which is symbolic of worship or giving up of everything for the pursuit of the Lord.
• In the Old Testament, the Israelites were ready to worship God. They had to build an altar and offer a sacrifice and God responded, provided His conditions were met. He would then answer by fire.
• Today, we (you and me) are the altar, our bodies, souls and spirits are the altar.
• According to the scripture, yielding all that we have and are, is equal to spiritual worship- Roman 12:1.
• In today’s spiritual Israel (the church of Jesus Christ) our hearts are symbolic of the altar.
• Our affections most continually be guarded so that nothing takes the place of God.
• We must lay all on the altar- Mark 12:30. Before the Lord sends the “fire” the altar must be ready- Psalm 40:6-8; Heb. 10:5-9.

BUILDING MATERIAL OF ALTARS- Matt. 16:15-18

• Simon=hearing Jonah=spirit.
• Worship starts with a new revelation of who Christ is. He is the foundation of our lives.
• Jesus Christ was stating in this scripture that the rock that God would build His church upon was the revelation of who Jesus is.
• Peter heard from the spirit (Simon- heard) (Jonah- spirit).
• This is always the foundation of our lives and of the last day church!
• Amos 8:11-12- today we can find the logos or Bibles in most places, but Amos was is talking about a famine or drought of hearing the word of God.
• Elijah took hold of the prophets of Baal and killed them. The last church is the church of Elijah, it must take hold of the prophets of hell.
• Elijah knew his God!! He had the foundation set in his heart, but the corporate altar was still broken so he was about to rebuild it.
• Our personal and corporate altar must be pure.
• Elijah knew that he must rebuild with 12 stones (12 tribes of Israel).
• The number twelve (12) is significant not only in its representing Israel but in its symbolism.
• 12 is the number of governmental perfection, the product of 3, denoting the divine, multiplied by four (4) representing the revelation of God or creative works- Rev. 21-22.
• The number 12 comes up again when Elijah commanded the people to pour 4 large jars with water and pour it on the offering 3 times (12).
• The water poured on the offering was probably salty water from a nearby sea- Leviticus 2:13.
• The “Covenant of salt” denotes an insoluble alliance between friends- Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19; 2^nd13:5.
• Elijah rebuild the alter with 12 stones, then he placed the wood as fuel for sacrifice of a bull that had been prepared, wetted the wood with salt water making it impossible for anyone to say that when fire came from heaven it was not a supernatural sign from a covenant God!!- Exo. 29:36.

IT TAKES FAITH

• Elijah knew God would answer, he was convinced that God was who He said He was and would honor His covenant.
• He had faith and faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.
• Faith produces works.

ALTARS ARE GATEWAYS TO THE SUPERNATURAL

• Altars represent places where the earth meets heaven, where the mortal meet with the immortal. It is where God interacts with man.
• Demonically established altars are false gods and tyrannical demonic principalities are established.
• Demonic shrines are places of sacrifice to Satan. Demonic principalities are established all over the world.
• The battle in every territory is over worship. The battle is over what kind of altar will be established.
• Is it going to be the altars of the enemy or altar to the living God?
• The gods of our times are many and varied every little village to counties, to the nation, region and the entire continent is under principalities- 1^st4:4.
• This is also true in the hearts of individuals, families, communities, people groups and nations.
• Altars establish “gates” of rulership, the conflict between Elijah and the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel was conflict over who will rule. Jehovah God or Baal? Satan or God?
• The altar was built, then the Lord answered with fire from heaven demonstrating that the Lord God, He is God- 1^st Kings 18.

CONCLUSION

• When a believer visits the place of the altar and sacrifice upon it, the God of the altar will show up.
• Prophet Elijah sacrificed and the God of his altar showed up, fire came down from heaven and consumed the offering, the water and everything on it- 1^st Peter 2:4-5.
• The supreme desire of God is that when we come together, we meet with Him.
• When we substitute our own offering of worship we exile ourselves to a life that is incomplete.